them is a large idol
of hewn stone of a man in a squatting posture. The figure is not ill
sculptured. His mouth is wide, and his eyes and ears large, while his
arms and legs are short and out of proportion. There are numerous other
idols, of the same size and form, made out of the bread-fruit tree,
arranged on either side and behind him, as if they were his ministers
and attendants. To the right and left of these hideous idols are two
obelisks, about thirty-five feet in height, built very neatly of
bamboos, with the leaves of palm and cocoa-nut trees interwoven. At the
base are hung the heads of hogs and tortoises, offerings to the idols.
They are also ornamented with streamers of white cloth. A few paces to
the right of the grove we see four large war-canoes, furnished with
their out-riggers, and decorated with ornaments of human hair, coral,
shells, and white streamers. In the stern of each sits the figure of a
man steering with a paddle, and in full dress, with plumes, ear-rings
shaped like whale's teeth, and all the ornaments fashionable in the
country. These canoes are placed here to be blessed, we suppose, by the
priests. These priests have great power, for they are looked upon as
little inferior to the idols. We see this same stone idol represented
in a variety of ways, made of human bones, hung round their necks, or
carved on their clubs, or making handles to their fans and
walking-sticks.

We find that there is no lack of sandal-wood, which raises Golding's
spirits. Mine sink when I see the idolatry of these poor people, with
no hope that they may be taught better. On descending the valley we
pass a morai, or worshipping place, I may call it. On the ground is
seated the chief, with his sons, and a large number of his attendants,
or courtiers. In front of them are a number of little houses, or sheds,
made of bamboo, each about two feet long and rather less in height, and
ornamented with shreds of cloth. There are a dozen or more, forming a
cluster like a village. The chief and the rest are singing and clapping
their hands, and thus they go on for an hour or more. This they call
praying to their gods,--a fit homage to gods of wood and stone.
Sometimes they stop, and laugh and talk together, as if they have
forgotten what they are about. We have seen no human sacrifices, but we
have reason to believe that they take place, and from what we hear the
people are undoubtedly cannibals. There are sev